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There is alot of info here on this forum but I would like a better way to learn more flamenco instead of going from website to website learning different ideas. Is there an all time favorite book with a dvd that I can use? I am a classicaly trained player that would like to learn some more flamenco styles.
I am classical player and woud like to learn more flamenco technique. Beacuse I have just come into possesion of a 1959 Manuel Rodriquez blanca flamenca guitar. So I guess I better learn some flamenco.
yeah, its a manuel rodriquez from 1959 and I think its model number 118. It belonged to an uncle of mine, he had it for years and bought it new iin Madrid in 1960. Well he gave it to me as a gift when he could not play any more because of age. I will post some pics.. thanks for the info on the books and videos I will most surely buy them. thanks
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The GM DVDs are better than the JM DVDs, but I like the JM books better. They have slightly different approaches so it's best to peruse them before buying, if you can.
I've been playing flamenco for about 1 year now and was wondering which Encuentro DVD/book to get. I've read and heard lot's of good opinions about the Nunez, Tomatito and Chicuelo so far. Is it a matter of taste? Just wondering, because I will only be able to buy one at a time since they are kind of spendy...
I agree with Paleto, the Merengue book is good to begin. But for my personal taste, I would prefer the one from Moraito. I have almost all the Encuentro serie, and I feel that those from Moraito, Tomatito, Habichuela and Nunez had made the best for my progression. Thus, to begin, I will recommand Moraito but Merengue is also a good choice.
To explain a little and give you arguments to choose : I feel the content of Moraito's is really very good, musically speaking (that's important to give you the will to work hard) and that even if Moraito's style (Jerez) is difficult when played at full speed, it's not "so" difficult when slowed down (and the vid presents slow and fast versions of the themes). A very good thing also in Moraito's is the part with cante from the terrible Fernando Terremoto (who stands clear behind his name), and also the cajon by Ricardo Espinosa.
Perhaps one "advantage" of the Merengue's over Moraito's is that it seems more "traditional" (and it's good to begin with "traditional" stuff) and easier. But the traditional/modern difference is not so clear between the two. The second advantage of the Merengue's is that it present most of the flamenco's palos, as a sort of "encyclopedia". So you'll be able to get most of the rythmic patterns from this one (but I feel it could be a little bit annoying and too hard to figure out each rhythm for a beginner). If you're more focused on learning all the different rhythms and palos, then let's choose Merengue. If your point is pleasing yourself with impressive and "straigt to the point" musical themes and if you're not an "absolute beginner", let's go for the Moraito... Maybe some will have another point of view ?
I think a good thing for you MarkMC is to search on youtube for extracts of these Encuentro lessons. I think there are some bits here and here, try to find them by typing the name of the players. I can't give you any other advice to find extracts than to search for vids with a "bad taste" background in most case (a blank wall, a curtain, a plastic plant,...Man, why didn't they made the effort of shooting these vids in the Alhambra!) and also, a conde hermanos guitar in the hand of the player ! (most plays with one in these vids). And remember : if the playing seems very hard at first, in the full video the speed will be lower and for sure after a lot of hard work you'll get the point...
cante from the terrible Fernando Terremoto (who stands clear behind his name)
hahaha!
Thank you for the detailed response! I will have to keep the Moriato one in mind also. Is this a clip from the Encuentro vid? (w/ the plastic plant, hehe)
Anyway, I've been working with the Paco Pena toques book and Ricardo's lesson's from the FT site during the past year, so the Moriato sounds very intersting for sure.
The only two geared towards beginners is the Merengue de Cordoba Vol.I and Paco Serrano's. Both are excellent. The others are too advanced for beginners. Not that you can't learn from them.
Mark : Yes, the link you gave is an extract of the Encuentro prod. Sounds good, no ? BUT : Paleto, Jon, Tom : You're right. I was "taken away" by remembering the pleasure I had to play this Moraito's stuff and probably missed the level required. Bad advice from my side.
Thus Mark, I get back from what I've said : Merengue and Serrano would be the best choices !
(I must say that I actually began flamenco with the Moraito's one !! It was my only source for one year (exept "living sources") and boy, it was a pleasure (it's still as I'm far to play like the "humble king"). Was playing classical and electrical guitar for a long time before and hearing flamenco since childhood- so maybe that's why my point was biaised. Anyway, thanks for having me "putted back on tracks". I won't have the responsability to have Mark made a not-so-good choice).
Mark : Thanks for the remark on my avatar. That's my next baby (errr. The guitar, not the woman. It's a simple "collage" from photoshop). If a giant asteroid won't fall on France on the next days, I'll be "pleased" to play a Lester Devoe negra with spruce/Indian rosewood (from the "Maine" period). PS : I was planning perhaps to try to make a little review of the guitar here, for those who could be interested in Lester's guitars. But I'm no "pro", and I don't have any recording stuff. So it would be "words and pictures" review only, by an amateur player. I'll see when I'll be able to put my hand on this baby...
You mean you don't recommend me jumping right to the Nunez?! (hehe) That's cool. I don't want to get in over my head anyways.
I've played classical for over 20 years, flamenco for 1. So the more difficult stuff doesn't scare me away. However, I do respect and appreciate the more advanced players opinions about starting with the more beginner/basic stuff. The Merengue and Serrano sounds interesting.
I want to learn flamenco correctly and build a solid technique at the beginning and not rush it! I'm enjoying the journey...
The Serrano one is good too for the reasons stated - the music is not too hard.
One other pro to gettting the Merengue one is that he spends a bunch of time on technique and he covers many palos, so you get introductory material to a lot of different toques/palos.
There are a couple people here in San Diego who have asked me to start teaching them, and I'm going to use the Merengue book/DVD for the reasons above.
I would also just suggest generally to spend a lot of time practicing rasgueados against compas, use the Escuela de flamenco and/or Solo compas cds too. I practice against them daily and it really is fun and lets me get creative rhythmically, which is the most fundamental thing for flamenco I think.
People have mentioned the Núñez book in passing just kidding about jumping right into it. The music is much more challenging, however, he spends considerable time detailing some technical studies which I would think could be a real benefit for you, so when you feel you have grasped much of what Merengue or Serrano have in their books, don't be afraid to get the Núñez one too, the technique studies in there could be great for you. By the time you have grasped Merengues and or Serranos stuff, the Núñez technique material would be great.
Since you have studied classical, you have a lot of problem solving skills that will help you a lot, the trick will be to develop the right hand to perform the techniques as flamenco as possible.
I went out and bought the Graf-Martínez volume 1 DVD/book/cd.
I am very impressed with what's in the book, excellent information, I will be using this too. I haven't watched the DVD yet, but I am sure it is excellent.
I would highly recommend this to anyone, there are basic things I wasn't aware of and just lots of good info.
How about Salado's vids he did w/ Manolo Franco. What I like about that series is that each video is devoted to a specific palo. I haven't bought one yet tho. I think deflamenco has samples of each track.
I bought "The Art of Flamenco Guitar by Ivor Mairants" in the late 70's and found it very useful but unfortunately I had lost it. I heard it has been republished again. Where and how can I buy another copy?
I bought "The Art of Flamenco Guitar by Ivor Mairants" in the late 70's and found it very useful but unfortunately I had lost it. I heard it has been republished again. Where and how can I buy another copy?
..ermm where have you looked? I just Googled and Amazon had it, looked on Ebay there were copies..